Belt wringer



oct. 27, 1942. N. ETTEN 2,299,886.

B ELT WRINGrER` Filed May 5, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 i N f i W lumi l fw n N. L. ETTEN BELT WRINGER,

Filed May 5, 1958 oci. 27, 1942;

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' BELT WRINGER Filed May 5, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 f7 WWW v N. l..Y ETTEN BELT WRINGER Filed May 5, i958 5 sheetsheet 4 `N, L. ETTEN oct. 27, 1942.

BELT WRINGER Filed May 5, I 1938 5 SheetS-Sheet 5 MSN A mm MQ Patented Oct. `27, i942 2.991,385 t nauwe-:Nona

\ nicholas' Etten, wetende, iowa Applicausa` any 5.1933, semi no.' 2065117 "wiet-5261),; `1 i t rolls vlamented quinslowly or that the operating 'r 14 sans This invention relates clothes wririgersand` more particularly to a wringer of improved-design and construction having .advantages vin eflciency and safety not heretofore knowndnthe art. t

Anotherimportant object ofthis invention is to` provide a relatively flat feedWtab'le fora wringer, such that the operator` in feedingthe wringer may place the work upon a plane sur# face of this feed table, rather than'io be required to insert the work between the rolls as is The primary object of this inventionis topro necessary in conventional wringer constructions.

Another important object of the ,invention is` to provide a wringer wherein the work is subjected to a primary and a secondary pressurel application, the first pressure application being of such a relatively light nature that it cause injury to the operator'. i Anotherobject of the wringer wherein the pressure application may be maintained upon. the work for` allonger time interval than is ail'orded `by the-` conventional wringer construction.

Other objects of the invention will appear here.,-

in'ai'ter.` 4 Y l In the usual wringer construction which Veinploys a pair of resilient rolls yieldably held ih engagement with each other, thereare two important disadvantages. -The first of these is the fact that the operating `cannot invention is to `provide a` pressure between`the rolls must be very great in order to effectively extract i the moisture from the struction in order that the feed belt will be drawn have been overcome by' n belt which operates betweerithe wringergrolls and pressure betweenV the rolls' beV very great.

t In thev present constructionthese disadvantages providing a resilient feed around` a pair ofidler'rolls in such a-mariner as to constitute a workl conveyor having an" almost horizontal table surface upon Vwhich the workv may be placed by the opera-tor withoutitle necessity of `requiringlier to bring `her lhaniis'into closeproxlmlty with the pressure rolls 'themi selves. This feed lbelt and between the ing action'takes the "work'from-the'lwringer.

In orderl to still further increase the advantages and decrease the -risks incident to the use of the wringer, two pressure ro'lls may be positioned side by side ina substantiallyhorizontal plane, rather than one-above theother as in the usual conaround one offthe rolls and partially .'encircle it before it passes between thecontacting portions of the pressure rolls.

It will be readily understood'that at this time the tension on the i'eed belt will cause this belt to engage the'roll at the` primary point of contact'with a degree of pressure variable in`ac cordance'with the tension on the feed belt.

work-and that consequently this relatively great pressure is capable i of causing serious injury to the operator inthe `event that her hands should come between 'the rolls. It is customary, wringers withemergency release controls, but it should be pointed out thatl after the ox/iginal injury'has been `done and that while it mayl of course, to provide thesecontrols operate i prevent a more serious injury from occurring, they by no means eliminate the A involved.

The second disadvantage in the conventional type of wringer is that the relatively narrow line contact afforded between the wringerrolls `applies wringingpressure to the work only during a comparatively short time interval.` "Thus, 4in

order to effectively extract the waterfr'om tle' clothes. it becomes necessary either that the Referring now more particularlyto the draw ings in whichI have shown the preferred ernbodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a perspective' view of the wringer assembly; .Y l

Fig. 2 is anA end elevation of the wringer; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the wringer structure, `being taken substantially on the plane of the line 3-3 oi." Fig. 6;

Fig. 4 is a `transverse section through the wringer ,mechanism, being` taken substantially on the plane of the line 4-4 of Fig. 3

Fig..5 is a transverse section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is `al detail plan section taken substantially on the plane of the line 6--6-01' Fig. 5,

The frame 'structure of the present preferred embodiment of this invention-as illustrated includes al pair of end housings 8 and 9, which are rigidly secured in s'paced'relatlonship with each other by means Oia pair of tie-rods I I and I2 which'` extend between [the bosses ji3 within the I4 within the hous'- housing 8 and similar bosses' ing 9. It'will be-noted that eachjof these tierods` Il and II is provided with `a reduced end Portion in such a. manner as to form a shoulder then carries the work' toit," pressure rolls where the wring-` place and thereafter discharges |5 which will abut against one of the bosses I3 or |4 and thus allow the housings 8 and 9 to be rigidly secured in position by Imeans of the nuts i6 threaded on each end of each of the tie-rods and |2. These tie-rods II and I2 are rigidly locked in position and are not free to rotate, but

each is provided with one of the sleeves or idler4 rolls I8 and I9, rotatably mounted by means of the anti-'friction bushings |1 secured within either end of each of the sleeves |8 and I9 and freely rotatable upon the tie-rods and I2, respectively. The arrangement is such that the tie-rods act to maintain the housings 8 and 9 in their proper spaced relationship, while the sleeves |8 and I9 act as idler rollers, as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter.

An operatingor roll-shifting rod 2| extends through openings 22 in the end walls of the housings 8 and 9 and is provided with operating control knobs 24 which may be secured to the rod 2| in any convenient manner, as, for example, by means of the cross pins 25. Preferably, these operating control knobs 24 are recessed within the depressions 21 formed in the housings 8 and 9, respectively, in order that they may be easily operated and yet be out of the way of the operator. The operating rod 2| includes threaded portions 3| and 32 and a pair of bearing arms 33 and 34 are secured thereto by means of the nuts 35 and lock washers 36. The bearing arms 33 and 34 extend angularly upwardly from the rod 2| and each is provided with a pair of flanges 31 and'38 between which bearing members 4| and 42 may be secured by means of the rivets 43.

The bearing members 4| and 42 may be of any material customarily used for the purpose and are provided with openings in which the opposite ends of theishaft 44 of the shiftable roller 45 are journaled. The arrangement is such that the roll 45 and the bearing brackets 33 and 34 are rigidly held in their angular position with respect to the rod 2| and, therefore, manual rotation of either of the control knobs 23 and 24 will rotate the rod 2| in such a manner as to swing the roll 45 arcuately about the rod 2| as a center and thus enable the operator to shift the roll 45 from the position shown, downwardly through the dotted line position 45, illustrated in Fig. 3, and into the position 45", as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4. The solid line position of the roll 45 and the dotted line position 45", as

illustrated in Fig. 4, are the normal forward and reverse operating positions of this roll, while the position 45a, illustrated in Fig. 3 is the fully released position as will hereinafter be explained.

lease bar will be effective to rotate the head portions 62 and 63 of the studs 56 and 51. The lower half of these head portions 62 and 63 is notched as shown at 64 in order to form semi-circular releasing cams, as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 4. Any manual movement imparted to the release ba; will be effective to rotate the head cam portion 63 of the stud 51 and force both of the latches 5| and 52 out of engaging position. When this occurs the latch 52 will disengage the flange 31 and the roll 45 will then be free to swing into the released position 45a under the influence of gravity and under the tension of the feed belt 65. A coil spring 80 extends between the latches 5| and 52 in such a manner as to return them to the latching position and consequently to return the release bar 55 to its normal vertical position whenever no external forces are operating against the release bar. It will be understood that substantially identical latch members are housed within the housing 8, the latch member 66 therein corresponding to the latch 5| within the housing 9 while the latch 61 corresponds to and operates 'relationship with the roll 45 and is adapted to A pair of latches 5I and 52 are pivotally mount ed. on the inner wall of the housing 9 by means of the cap screws 53 and 54, respectively. These latches are arranged in such a manner that the lower hook portion of the latch 52 will engage the flange 31 on the bearing arm 34 and serve to maintain this bearing arm 34 and the bearing 42 mounted therein in the position shown in Fig. 4, when the roll 45 is in its solid'line or forward position, while the latch 5| will engage the flange 38 and maintain the parts in the dotted line position whenever the roll 45 is moved to the reverse position 45h.

Manual release of the vlatches is accomplished by a release bar' 55 mounted between the stud 55 cooperate therewith. The roll 15 includes a roll shaft 16, the end portions of which are journalled in the bearing members 11 secured between the flanges 18 and 19 of each of the bearing arms 88 and 8| by means of the rivets 82. Each of the bearing arms 88 and 8| extends downwardly and is pivoted upon the rod 2|. In order to provide a freely rotatable connection between the rod 2| and the bearing arms BIJ and 8|, a pair of spacers 84 are placed over the threaded portions 3| and 32 of the rod 2| and each of these spacers 84 is clamped in position against one of the nuts 35 by means of one of the nuts 85. It will readily be seen from an examination of Fig. 3that the spacer 84 is of greater thickness than the downwardly extending portion of the arm 8| and that for this reason the clamping action between the nuts 35 and 85 will act only upon the spacer 84 and will allow the bearing arms and 8| to be freely rotatable upon the rod 2| without respect to the position of the control knobs 23 and 24.

It will be seen from Figs. 4 and 5 that with the rolls 45 and 15 in the position shown, the endless feed belt 65 will extend from the sleeve or idler roller I8 on the left hand side of t machine to th'e lower surface of the roll 15 d thence upwardly around the arcuate surface of the roll 15, between the pressure surfaces of the roll 15 and of the roll 45, and thence downwardly around the -sleeve or idler roll |9 and horizontally back to the sleeve I8. When the parts are in this position, the portion of the feed belt 65 extending between the sleeve I8 and the roll 15 provides a fiat feed table upon which the operator may place the work without the necessity of bringing her hands in close proximity to the rolls 45 and 15.

As the rolls are driven, the'feed belt 65 will convey the work from the operators hand to the roll 15 and thence upwardly between the roll 15 and the roll 45 in order to complete the wringing action. It should be particularly noted,

59 and 6I in order that the operation of the re- 75 however, that before the work reaches the point of pressure existing ,tbetween the roll and the roll 45, it will be subjected to a relatively light pressure i'romthe' time that the belt`65 rst engages the roll 15. SinceV inthe embodimentof the invention here illustrated, the belt 55 encircles the roll 15 for about one-fourth o! itsy circumference, it will be clearthat the pressure here exerted by the belt is maintained `for a much greater period of time than inthe case A, of. the

pressure bearing between the two .roll's,'"-"'This factor increases the effectivenessV as"well as the l safety of the wringer, since the bulk -of the water contained by the ,work is removed before the work passes `into the areaof `maximum pressure existing between the rolls 45 and 15. t `A more important advantage of this construction, however, arises' from rthe fact that while the tension ofthe belt 65 is suflicientto Vapply a` very noticeable degree of pressure to the work, yet it is not suilicient to injure the operators hand in the event that it should inadvertently j line position shown at 45h. When the roll 45 has been moved to the position 45h, it is, oi course, necessary'to reversethe action of the coil springs 91 in order that the proper'pressure relationship between the rolls-be established. To accomplish this a pair of pressure control levers III. are provided, each of which is/mounted upon a rotatable stud` H2 journaled in aboss 'H2 withinthe wall of the.housing`8 or 9, respectively. The enlarged inner head portions H4 come between .thebelt 65 and the roll 15.

practice `it has been found thatif the operators hand comes between the roll 15 andthe"i belt 65, the pressure will be suilicient to cause momentary pain, with the resultthat the operatorwill involuntarily withdrawherhand and thus be in -no immediate danger of ,more serious injury which might occur due to the relatively great' operating pressure between the rolls and 95. In this connection it should be pointed out that in the conventional type of wringerytheoperating pressure `is necessarily so great that :it will effectively prevent the operator from removing her hand unless some release mechanism is operated andthat even though a release be effective` almost instantaneously, the relatively great pressure will nevertheless cause a rather serious .and painful injury. In the present construction,

however, such undesirable results have been eliminated since the reduced pressure effective between the belt and the roll is not suihcient4 to either cause injury nor to prevent involuntary withdrawal of the operators hand, but on the. contrary is only suillcient to cause'suflici'ent pain i that the operator will automatically withdraw operation of the offset crankpin the spring pilot 92 longitudinally to -the-leitin o1' the studs H2 are each providedwith an ofiset crank stud II5 in orderto individually control `the spring units9i. Each crank stud H5 carries aV connecting rod H6 which' extendsL through a drilled. opening II1-nearvone 'end of the `spring pilot 92 in such amanner that the order that the roll 15 may be forced to the left as viewed ...in the drawings rather than to the right.

ing rod H5 which is preferably secured in position by means o! a pair of cotter pins H9. When the pressure control arm` III isrotated through f .180 of movement theA olset crank pin H5 will operate through the connecting rod H5 to slide the spring pilot 92 toward the left until the right hand end of the slot |03 engages `the pin |02 and movesthe collar 99 tothe leftV against the pressure spring 91. As this occurs the collar 99 `will come to bear against the yadjusting `bushing either as a result of a voluntary or of an involuntary reflex action. I

A spring pressure unit 9| is provided at'each end of the machine to properly maintain the resilient relationship between the roll 15 and the roll 45. Each of these spring units 9| includes a pilot rod 92 which is slidably mounted within" internal bosses 93 and 94 formed within `the housings 9 and 9, respectively. -Each of the bosses soV formed is drilled at 95 to receive the e slidable pilot rod 92 and the outer ends of each1 of these drilled openings 9,5.are closed by means i of plugs 96. A coil spring 91 is carried by each of the pilot rods 92 and is adapted to bear against the slidable collars 99 and 99, each of which is limited in its movement by the pins IOI and |02, which are adapted tomove within the longitudinal slot |09 in the pilotrod 92, The spring yoke `III4 is also slidably mounted upon the pilot rod 92 and is provided-with a pressure pin I05which extends throughoneof the openings ,|06 provided ineach of thev bearing arms.,

I0 and 8|. The arrangement .is such that when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 6, the

|08, thus tending to move the |05to` the left, andithereby urge the droll 15 intov i pressure engagement with the roll 45h. The 'continued leftward movement of the pilot 92 will,` lof course., compress-the coil spring l91 in order` that a proper initial tension may be maintained. The operating radius of the crank stud I I5 has been so calculated as to provide `a proper predetermined initial operating pressure and the i adjusting bushings |01 and i08 threaded intofthe opposite ends of the yoke |04 may be adjusted by the `operator from time to time in order to Vvary the operating pressure in accordance with the requirements of the work@ It should also be pointed out that each the pressure control arms :III are mounted on the outside of the housings sand 9, respectively, 4 in s uch a manner that they are capable of movement somewhat greater than beforeA engaging the stop portions I2| provided on the housings 8 and 9. `This construction Vallows the oiset crank stud` I I5 to move' slightly beyond thedead center position at each end of its'arc of movement in order that fthe forgeexerted by the springs 91` will hold the pressure control levers .III infirm contact withthe stop portions |26` o and prevent-any possibility of accidental release of the springs 91. i y l Driving 'means for the wringer isprovided by liextending the shaft |25 of the roll 45 through slidable sleeve a99 is limited in its movement byfthe pin IOI in such a manner that the compres` sion spring 9.1iV will bear against the collar 99 and i thence against the adjusting bushing |01 in such a manner as -to tend to slide the yoke |04 to the the bearing 4| and bearing arm 33 and providing it with afgear |25 which may be keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft |25. `When the partsare in the. solid line position shown, this the pressure exerted by the coil I5 will move Each boss 99 is provided with `l milled4 slots H8 in order to acommodate4 the connect--` yoke-|04, and pin 4 bracket |36 bolted to the inner wall @fthe nous; ing 8 by means of a pair of cap screwsY |31,A e The shaft |32 is also provided with avbevelgear |4| carried by the bracket |36` andfby a boss portion gear |42 keyed to a verticaldrlvesaft H journaled in anti-friction bushings |44 and |45 |46, respectively. The boss |45 is"l,eprefterab-li,I i

formed integrally with the hoiising San may also serve as a mounting vbossfo'iv e entire wringer structure in orderthat the wringer may be thereby pivotally mounted with respect to' a washing machine andwith respectl to aiwring'er power transmission shaft adapted to transmit rotary driving force to the drive shaft |43 by means of the pin connection |41.

Means for reverse driving of the wringer have also been provided by this structure, since in order to drive the mechanism in the reverse direction when the roll 45 is moved to theV position of 45", it is also necessary that the roll be shifted, for when this is done the gear |26 will disengage the gear |21 and engage the gear |3| which is, of course, revolving in van opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the gear |21.

In the operation of the machine, the work is placed on a flat feed table portion of the feed belt 55 and` is thence carried to the roll 15 upwardly between the rolls vand 4 5 andr thence downwardly toward the idler sleeve I S at which point the work is discharged from thema'chin'e. In the normal operation the roll 45 will be secured against any movement by means of the i latches 52 and 61 and any irregularities in the thickness of the materials being handled will be compensated for by yielding movement of the roll 15 as allowed by the springk units 9|.` When the operator desires to reverse the movement of the wringer she' will operate the release bar 55 by pivoting it in either direction about the studs 56 and 51, thus causing the 'semi-circular cam portions of the enlarged inner heads 52 and 63 of these studs to act against the release latches 61 and 52 in order that they will disengage the bearing arms 33 and 34, respectively, and allow the roll 45 `to drop into its released position 45, By manually rotating either or both of the control knobs 23 and 24 this roll may be moved upwardly to the position 45b,at which time the flanges 38 of the bearing arms 33 and 34 will be engaged by the latch members 5| and 66 in order to maintain the roll in this position.

It should be pointed out that .at this time the spring units 9| will be urging the roll 15 toward the right as viewed in the drawings and. that for this reason no pressure will be exerted against the roll 45 as it is moved into the position 45h. After the latches have engaged, the operating pressure between the rolls may be established by moving each of the pressure control vlevers through somewhat more than 180 of move-. ment in'order to slidethe spring pilots 92 longiroll 15 tothe left in order to engage the roll 45 in its new position 45h.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of this invention in accordance with the patent statutes, I am aware that it is subject townumerous modifications without departing fromAthe `invention spirit and I, therefore, do not Wish to be limited except as by the scope of the appended claims.

I Claim:

n 1 Ina wringer, an idle pressure roll, a roll shaftA therefor rotatably mounted in movable bearings, horizontally movable pressure springs associatediwith each of said bearings, spring guides for limiting the movement of said springs, manually operable control means for applying initial operating pressure to said springs at either end thereof and in either direction, a driven pressure roll, a roll shaft therefor mounted in movable bearings, means to guide the second roll into either of two limiting positions substantially in horizontal alignment with said idle pressure roll, manually operable roll shifting means associated with the guiding means to move said driven pressure roll from either of said operating positions to the other; means for rotatably driving said driven roll when in one of said operating positions, means for rotatably driving said drive'nroll in the opposite direction of rotation when in .the other of said operating positions, releasable` latches adapted to maintain said driven pressure roll in either of said limiting positions, a manually releasable control common to `all of said releasable latches, an endless feed belt of ,elastic material extending substantially horizontally below said idle pressureroll and upwardly between said idle pressure `roll and said driven pressure roll, and idler rollerssupi porting said feed belt.

2. In a wringer, an idle pressure roll, a roll shaft therefor rotatably mounted in movable bearings, movable pressure springs associated with each of said bearings, spring guides for limiting the 'movement of said springs', manually operable control means for applying initial op- I means for rotatably driving said driven roll when tudinally and cause the springs 91 to urge the 75 in one of said operating positions, means for rotatably driving said driven roll in the opposite direction of rotation when in the other of said operating positions, releasable latches adapted to maintain said driven pressure roll in either of said operating positions, a manually vreleasable control common to all of said releasable latches, an endless feed belt extending between said idle pressure roll and said driven pressure roll, and idler rollers supporting said feed belt.

. 3. In a wringer, an idle pressure roll, a driven 4pressure roll, means to guide said driven pressure roll and bearings between an operating position on one side thereof, and an operating position on the opposite side of said idle pressure roll, roll shifting means adapted to move said driven pressure roll from either of said operating positions to the other, means for'rotatably driving said driven roll when in one of said operating positions, means for rotatably driving said driven roll in the opposite direction of rotation when in the other of said operating positions, re-

leasable latches adapted to maintain said driven pressure roll in ether of said operating positions, and a manually releasable control common to all of said releasable latches. f

4. In a wringer, an idle pressure roll, a driven pressure roll, means formaintaining said driven pressure roll and bearings in an operating position, means for maintaining said driven pressure roll in an operating position on the opposite side of said 3idle'pressure roll', roll'shifting means adaptedito move said driven pressure roll from either of said operating positions to the other, means rotatable in one direction, means rotatable in the opposite direction and means shiftable responsive to the roll shifting mechanism for en` gagernent with one or theother of said rotatable i means, to reverse `the direction of rotation of the -drive of said driven roll;`

5. In a wringer,v a pluralityof ,idler rolls, an"

endless elastic feed belt extending around and carried by said idler rolls, a pair of pressure rolls intermediate said idler rolls and adapted to bear against and apply pressure to both surfaces of said feed belt,V means for establishing operating pressure between said pressure rolls, manual release means for 'said rolls, means for sluiting one4 belt passing upwardlyV through the bite of ,the

rolls, the combination ofA means for shifting one of said'rolls and the belt. between a forward operating position wherein the rolls and belt assume a characteristic wedgelike conveyor apron position on one side of a vertical plane in whichr the center of the machine structure lies and a reverse operatingfpositionwherein the rolls and` belt-I assume a similar wedge-like conveyor apron position on the opposite side of said plane, said' shifting means comprising means for 'moving one of said rolls in a path of movement whereby the axial spacing between said roll and its cooperating roll is yincreased to release ,the pressure e'vffective between said rolls during the shifting movement; 'means responsive to said shifting ,movement for automatically reversing the direction oi rotation of said rolls; pressure means whereby one of said pressure rolls may be spring ,urged in either of two directions to be forced into cooperating engagement with its cooperating ro11.

in either the forward or reverse positions; said pressure means comprising an independent springend reset lever at each end of said pressure rolls; and means whereby said pressure springs force 'said cooperating rolls out of engagement during the shifting movement of said rolls. Y

7. In' a wringer mechanism including a frame, apair oi `pressure rolls, `and a coacting conveyor belt passing upwardly through the bite. of the rolls, the combination of means for shifting one of said rolls and the belt between a forward voperating pocharacteristic wedge-like conveyor apron position on one side of a vertical plane in which the center of the machine structure lies and a reverse path of movement downwardly and belowv a relatively stationary cooperating roll; means responsive to .said shiftingmovement for automatically l reversing the direction of rotation oi said rolls; and pressure means whereby one of said pressure rolls may be forced into cooperating engagement with its cooperating roll in either the forward or reverse positions.

`8.*In a wringer mechanism including a horizontal pair of coacting pressure rolls, one of said rolls maintaining a. relatively fixed position and the other roll being shiftable to both sides of the fixed roll, and an endless clothes conveyor belt adapted to pass underneath the fixed roll and upwardly between the bite of the rolls and over theshiftable roll in such a manner as to provide -a feed table portion in arcuate contact with the fixed pressure roll, a discharge conveyor portion and a return portion, the xed pressure roll being positioned outside of the loop of the f endless conveyor belt and the shiftable roll being shiftable within the` loop of said conveyor belt, the shiftable positions constituting forward and reverse operating positions, a manually operable pressure release bar extending longitudinally of said iirst named pressure roll directly above said roll and' outside of said belt loop, and a frame structure*` comprising a pair of end frames and longitudinal members wherein all of said longi tudinal frame members are within said belt loop, the arrangement being such that all longitudinal parts of the wringer mechanism 'except the aforementioned fixed pressure roll and release bar are within the loop formed by the said and less conveyor belt,

9. In a wringer mechanism including a frame and aplurality of pressure rolls, the combinationv of spring means for applying operating pressure in either of two directions to one of the rolls, said spring means comprising a pair of springs,

' one spring of said pair being adapted to apply pressure at each end of said pressure roll, and a pair of pressure reset levers, each lever being' adapted to apply pressure to one of said springs in either direction and independently of the other spring, each of said levers being capable oi a movement of not lessthan 1ilil to aniord great mechanical advantage against said springs:

10. In a wringer mechanism 'comprising a frame, pressure means' comprising a plurality of pressure rolls, and spring means for maintaining said rolls in cooperating relationship, a sub stantially horizontal conveyor belt extending hetween idlers and adapted to pass below one oi said rolls, between the rolls and above one oi' said' rolls in order to provide a substantially horizontal feed table portion in tangential relationship with one of saidrolls and a discharge conveyor sition wherein the rolls and. belt assume a k a feed table portion having a straight run oi not operating position wherein theV rolls and belt assume a similar geometric position on the oppoportion in tangential relationship with the second roll, the straight run of said feed table portion between the points ci tangency with said idler and pressure rolls being not less than the straight run oi said discharge conveyor portion;

` and means for shifting said pressure roll means and said belt for reverse operation in such. a manner as to provide a discharge conveyor porm tion of the belt on the side oi the rolls. formerly' occupied by the feed table portion, and to provide veyor portion, .but 'positioned on' the sideoi the l wringer rolls formerly occupied by the discharge conveyor portion.

v 1l. In a wringer mechanism including aiirame, I roll supporting means, and roll driving;` means,

the combination of an endless feed belt, a central spring-urged pressure roll positioned above the top surface of the belt to provide a feed table portion of said belt on one side of the roll, and a discharge conveyor portion on the other side of said roll, a cooperating pressure roll adapted to be shifted between a foreward and a reverse operating position, one on either side of said central roll and so positioned as to reverse the positions of the feed table portion and discharge conveyor portion of said belt; means for applying pressure to said rst named central pressure roll to urge said roll in either direction whereby it may be forced into cooperating relationship with said second roll in either of the above named positions; means for driving said rolls and belt in a foreward direction while the second roll is in one of its two positions; and means responsive to the shifting of the second roll to said reverse position for driving the mechanism in a reverse direction.

l2. In a wringer mechanism including a frame, roll supporting means, and roll driving means, the combination of a resilient endless feed belt operating between a pair of idler rollers to provide a feed table portion and a discharge conveyor portion on the upper run of said belt and a return portion on the lower run of said belt, a central spring urged pressure roll above the top surface of said conveyor portion of said belt and positioned at approximately the mid point of the length of the belt loop, a cooperating pressure roll adapted to be shifted between two operating positions, one on either side of said spring urged roll in such a manner as to reverse the positions of the feed table portion and discharge conveyor portion of said belt, and means for applying spring pressure to said first named central pressure roll to urge said roll in either direction whereby it may be forced into cooperating relationship with said vsecond roll in either of the above named positions.

13. In a wringer mechanism including a frame, roll supporting means, and roll driving means, the combination of a resilient endless feed belt operating between a pair of idler rollers to pro- `vide a feed table portion and a discharge conveyor portion on the upper run of said belt and a. return portion on the lower run of said belt,

fil

a central spring urged pressure roll above the top surface of said conveyor portion of said belt and positioned at approximately the mid point of the length of the belt loop, a cooperating pressure roll adapted to be shifted between two operating positions, one on either side of said spring urged roll in such a manner as to reverse the positions of the feed table portion and discharge conveyor portion of said belt, means for latohing said cooperating pressure roll in either of said two positions, means for applying spring pressure to said first named central pressure roll to urge said roll in either direction whereby it may be forced into cooperating relationship with said second roll in either of the above named positions, means for driving the mechanism in foreward directionwhile the second roll is in one of its positions with respect to the first roll, means responsive to the movement of the second roll to its other position for driving the mechanism in a reverse direction, and a single manually operable release bar adapted to disengage the said latchng means responsive t0 manual movement in either of two possible directions of movement.

14. In a wringer, a relatively fixed pressure roll, a roll shaft therefor rotatably mounted in movable bearings, movable pressure springs associated with each of said bearings, spring guides for limiting the movement of said springs, manually operable control means for applying initial operating pressure to said springs, a coacting shiftable pressure roll, means to guide the shiftable roll into either of two limiting positions substantially in horizontal alignment with said xed pressure roll, roll shifting means associated with the guiding means to move said shiftable roll from either of said limiting positions to the other, means for rotatably driving said shiftable roll when in one of said operating positions, means for rotatably driving said shiftable roll in the opposite direction of rotation when in the other of said operating positions, release latches adapted to maintain said shiftable roll in either of said operating positions, and a feed belt running below said fixed pressure roll and upwardly between said xed roll and said shiftable roll.

NICHOLAS L. E'I'I'EN. 

